Knockdown toy battle-ship.



No. 7I0,560. Patented Oct. '7, [902.

C. T. BONN.

KNOCKDWN TOY BATTLE-SHIP.

(Appucaein med mr. 7, 1902.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-'Sheet .L

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c. T. Bonn.

KNOGKDOWN TOY BATTLE-SHIP.

(Application filed Mur. 7, 1902.) (lo Modal.) 2 Sheets-Shes! 2.

GOGQO UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CHARLES T. BONN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

KNOCKDOWN TOY BATTLE-SHIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,560, dated October '7, 1902. Application filed March 7, 1902. Serial No. 97,020.v (No inodehl To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. BONN, a citizen of the United States, residing at-Bal timore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knockdown rloy Battle-Ships, of which the Vfollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in toy battle-ships, and has for its object to provide a knockdown toy ship in miniature of a substantially modern vessel of war not only amusing to children, but instructive and thought-stimulating as well.

To this end the invention consists in a knockdown toy vessel constructed of novel parts and arrangements, all of which are separable from one another in such manner that the vessel may be progressively built up and so that the vessel may be progressively dismembered by a projectile from a toy cannon or such like, whereby an'amusing and instructive toy is provided which will inspire the imagination, and thus the construction or creative faculties of children while engaged in the amusing pastime of disrupting or def stroying a war vessel with cannon.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan View of the toy vessel. Fig. 2 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation; Fig. 3, a bottom plan; Fig. l, a top plan of the spar or upper deck. Figs. 5 and 6 are details of one of the elements, showing forms of engaging tongues by which the several parts are separably or in a knockdown manner connected together. Fig. 7 is a detail illustrating one of the sham armor sides of the superstructure and its arrangement, whereby it is caused to fall by impact of a projectile; Fig. 8, a fractional View of the deck, showing a diiferent form of slot.

By the following description my invention is set forth in detail, and that which I claim as new is described in the appended clauses of claim.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates the main-deck, which is permanently fixed in the hull 2, that extends a suitable distance below the deck and provides a space or compartment 3 for the wheel-trucks 4 and wheels 5, housing and concealing the same so as not to detract from the maritime appearance of the vessel. The forward truck is and the rear one may be pivoted, as at 6, to facilitate the steering of the vessel through the medium of a flexible element 7, by which the vessel maybe drawn and the direction of its movement controlled.V

The main-deck l is provided with numerous openings S to receive the engaging tongues of the immediate superstructure, which, for example, will consist of forward and aft turrets D and 10, provided with dummy cannon, jack-staff 11, i'lagstaff 12, the pillars or pedestals 13 for the spar or upper deck, and the lowermost sections 14 and 15 of the foremast and mainmast, which also serve as supports for the spar or upper deck or such other parts as may be decided, according to the class of vessel that is to be reproduced in miniature. The openings 8 maybe circular or angular, such as elongated slots, both forms being illustrated in the drawings. The elements described, or such thereof or others as may be employed, are provided with pyramidal tongues 16 to engage the openings 8, such tongues being semispherical, as shown in Fig. 5, rounded as in Fig. 6, or otherwise shaped, converging, pyramidal like. This construction of the tongues facilitates the entrance thereof into the openings and permits the elements of which they form part to topple out of the openings when properly struck by a projectile from a toy cannon or the like. Each of the elements described as being received in the openings of the maindeck are provided with fiat annular bottoms 17, surrounding the tongues, to seat againstl the deck outside the openings and afford such stability to said elements that they may support downward pressure or the weight of a structure built thereon, and such of said tongued elements as are intended to supportl a supplemental superstructurethe pillars 13, for example-are provided in their upper ends with recesses 18, which conform in contour to that of the pyramidal tongues they are to accommodate, and said recesses are surrounded by annular seats 19 for the annular bottoms surrounding the tongues of the elements of the superstructure. In the vessel shown the pillars 13 and the sections of the foremast and maiumast 14 15 support a spar or upper deck 20, (shown in detail in Fig. 4,)

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which rests thereon and is provided with properly-shaped openings 21 to receive the tongues 16:L of upper turrets 22, the tongue 16" of the conning-tower section 23 of the foremast, and the tongue 16c of the main lower mast section 24, which tongues pass through the openings 21 and enter the recesses in the upper ends of the supports 13 and the sections 14 15 of the foremast and mainmast, thus positioning and confining the spar-deck. The numerals 25 designate openings in the spar-deck to receive the tongues 16d of smokestacks 26.

The conning-.tower section 23 supports the bridge 27, which is provided with an opening 26L to register with the recess 23 in the upper end of the conning-tower, and through said opening 26q the tongue 16? of the chart-house 28 projects, whereby the bridge is confined in position and the chart-house connected in the structure in a knockdown manner. The chart-house is provided with a recess 2S, which receives the tongue 16f of the foremast 29, that carries a military top 30, Within which is located the recessr 29, that receives the tongue 16S of the fore and top mast 31. This topmast also carries a military top 32 and is provided with a recess 31, in which rests the tongue 16h of the signal-pole 33, carrying the signal 34.

Looking now at the main mast the numerals 35 and 36 indicate the maintopmast and the main upper topmast, each of which carries a military top 3S and 39, and each is provided with tongues 16 and 16-i and recesses 35 and 36, whereby these parts are connected, in the order named, into the structure in a knockdown style. The main upper topmast supports a signal-pole 40, carrying a signal 41 and having a tongue 16k, which goes into the recess 36a.

The side spaces between the main and spar decks are filled by sham armor sides 42, having pyramidal tongues to engage the proper openings in the main-deck, and said sides are free at the top, so that upon being struck by a projectile or the like they will fall, turning on -their tongues hinge-like.

It will thus appear that a vessel constructed according to my invention comprises elements of novel construction and interrelation so connected together that parts may be toppled off by the impact of a projectile Without disturbing other parts progressively until all the knockdown parts are struck 0d or toppled over. This aiords children much amusement in playing battle, training their eyes and hands to precision in marksmanship in the endeavor Io make the projectile strike the selected part in reducing the vessel to its several elements and inducing by this dissection of the vessel an appreciation of its parts and educating the construct-ive faculty in reconstructing the vessel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In a kuockdown toy battle-ship, the conlbination with the main-deck provided with a plurality of holes to receive the elements of an immediate superstructure, of an immediate superstructure constructed to be built upon the deck and embodying elements having pyramidal tongues to engage in the deckopenings and recesses in their upper ends t0 receive like pyramidal tongues of a supplemental superstructure whereby a knockdown superstructure is provided, substantially as described.

2. In a knockdown toy battle-ship, the combination with the main-deck provided with holes to receive the elements of a superstructure, of pedestals having pyramidal tongues to engage in the deck-openings and provided With recesses in their upper ends, a spar-deck resting on said pedestals, and provided with openings registering with the recesses in the pedestals, elements provided with pyramidal tongues passing through the openings in the spar-deck and into the recesses in the pedestals, said elements also provided with recesses in their upper ends to receive the pyramidal tongues of other superposed elements, substantially as described.

3. In a knockdown toy battle-ship, the conlbination with a main-deck having openings to receive a superstructure, of the superstructure comprising pedestals provided with pyramidal tongues constructed to engage in certain of the openings in the main-deck, a spardeck resting on said pedestals, and sham armor sides lling the space between the main and spar decks and having pyramidal tongues to engage the proper openings in the maindeck and being free at their upper'ends, slibstantially as described.

4. In a knockdown toy battle-ship, the combination with a main-deck having openings to receive a superstructure, and havinga depending hull provided with a wheel housing and concealing space, and wheeled trucks connected tc the main-deck Within said space, of the superstructure comprising pedestals provided with pyramidal tongues constructed to engage in certain of the openings in the main-deck, a spar-deck resting on said pedestals, and sham armor sides filling the space between the main and spar decks and having pyramidal tongues to engage the proper openings in the main-deck and being free at their upper ends, substantially as described.

5. In a knockdown toy battle-ship, the combination with a main-deck having openings to receive a superstructure, of the superstructure comprising pedestals consisting in part of the deck-sections of the main and fore masts, and provided with pyramidal tongues constructed to engage in certain of the openings in the main-deck, and provided also with recesses in their upper ends, a spar-deck resting on said pedestals, and having openings registering with the recesses in the pedestals, and also with smoke-stack openings, turrets and main and fore mast sections provided with pyramidal tongues to pass through the IOO IIO

registering openings of the spar-deck and into the recesses in the upper ends of the pedestals, smoke-stacks having pyramidal tongues to engage in the proper openings of the spardeck, and sham armor sides illing the space between the main and spar decks and having pyrainidal tongues to engage the proper openings in the main-deck and being free at their upper ends, substantially as described.

G. In a knockdown toy battle-ship, the co rnbination with a main-deck having openings t0 receive a superstructure, and having a hull depending there from to provide a Wheel housing and con cealing space, and Wheeled trucks connected to the main-deck Within said space, of the superstructure comprising pedestals consisting in part of the deck-sections of the main and fore masts, and provided with pyramid al tongues constructed to engage in certain of the openings in the main-deck, and provided also with recesses in their upper ends, a spar-deckresiing on said pedestals,

and having openings registering with the recesses in the pedestals, and also with smokestack openings, turrets and main foremast sections provided with pyramidal tongues to pass through the registering openings of the spar-deck and into the recesses in the upper ends of the pedestals, smoke-stacks having pyramidal tongues to engage in the proper openings of the spar-deck, and sham armor sides filling the space between the main and spar decks and having pyramidal tongues to engage the proper openings inthe main-deck and being free at their upper ends, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES T. BONN.

Vitnesses:

BRICE H. HERBERT, MARK ODoNNoGHUE. 

